Precision rolling support



April 18, 1961 R. J. BRETT 2,980,435

PRECISION ROLLING SUPPORT Filed Oct. 6, 1958 FIG-.1.

Fig. 5.

24 /4 JNVENTOR. 9/454 J 89677 5 BY rg United States Patent PRECISION ROLLING SUPPORT Riley J. Brett, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Sampson Motors, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 765,347

1 Claim. (Cl. 280-6) This invention relates to an anti-friction rolling support for use on surface plates or the like for supporting a height gauge or optical device for sighting or aligning positions.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a precision rolling support which will move in any direction on a smooth surface without any backlash or castering effect. Three of the precision rolling supports mount a plate for rolling movement along a fiat surface.

In accordance with my invention, each of the precision rolling supports employs a ball which rolls on a supporting surface and a plurality of rollers which contact the ball. Each of these rollers is larger in diameter than the ball and all of the rollers are the same size. Each roller has a frustro-conical surface Which contacts the ball at a location spaced more than 90 from the point of contact of the ball with the supporting surface. In this construc tion the ball may roll in any direction along the supporting surface while maintaining anti-friction rolling contacts with each of the three support rollers. The rollers are mounted in a symmetrical position on a unitary base member.

Other features of construction and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a support plate equipped with three precision rolling supports embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 22 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly broken away showing the position of one of the rollers with respect to the ball.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the lines 55 as shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, the support plate is equipped with three precision rolling supports 11 which are substantial duplicates. The plate may support a height gauge, camera, optical device or other apparatus for measuring or aligning operations. Each of the precision rolling supports 11 includes a ball 12 adapted to roll on a supporting surface 13. The ball is contacted by the frustro-conical surfaces 14 of three roller elements 15.

The frustro-conical surfaces 14 may be tapered at 45'.

Other angles may be used providing all three rollers have the same taper.

Each of these roller elements 15 is mounted on the overhanging portion 16 of a shaft 17. Each shaft 17 is rotatably mounted within an opening 13 provided in downward extending lugs 19 arranged symmetrically about a vertical axis passing through the center of the balls 12. The roller elements 15 are placed so that the frustroconical surfaces 14 thereof cooperate to define a pocket and the ball 12 is received in this pocket. Each of the surfaces 14 contacts the ball 12 at a location spaced more than from the point of contact of the ball 12 of the supporting surface 13.

The lugs 19 extend downward from the base member 20 and are preferably formed integrally therewith. The base member may be threaded on its outer surface as shown at 21 for connection with the threaded opening provided in the plate 10. A look nut 22 is mounted on the base 20 for clamping the base member 20 in adjusted position with respect to the plate 10. Levelling movement of the plate 10 is accomplished by turning one or more of the base members 20.

Rolling contact is maintained between the ball 12 and each of the rollers 15 regardless of the direction of movement of the ball. The shafts 17 turn freely within the openings 18 and the anti-friction thrust washers 23 reduce frictional resistance forces.

A retainer clip 24 is mounted on the base member 25 and is provided with a circular foot piece 26 which normally has clearance with the ball 12, but which acts to retain the ball and prevent its displacement from operating position in the event that the plate 10 should be lifted away from the supporting surface 13.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details set forth above, but my application is of the full scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A precision rolling support, comprising: a plate having three internally screwthreaded apertures; an externally screwthreaded body vertically adjustable in each of said apertures; a screwthreaded lock ring for adjustably securing each body relative to said plate; each body having three equally spaced depending journal lugs having horizontal bearing bores disposed in a common plane; a shaft journalled in each bearing bore; frusto-conical rollers at the proximal ends of said shafts defining therebetween a bearing pocket; and a ball member disposed in said pocket and constituting the sole support of said rollers with respect to an underlying surface, said ball being approximately one-half the efiective diameter of said rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,849 Klose Oct. 25, 1898 1,076,954 Climer Oct. 28, 1913 2,225,753 Milich Dec. 24, 1940 

